Effects Of Exercise Training On Quality Of Life In Women With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Sub-optimal quality of life (QoL) is common among women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exercise training has been shown to improve components of QoL in other psychiatry conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. A limited body of research has focused on the effects of exercise training and QoL changes for women with PTSD. PURPOSE: Evaluate the impact of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on QoL in a sample of women with probable PTSD. METHODS: Women with Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5) scores indicative of PTSD (≥ 28) were invited to participate. Thirty women with probable PTSD, who were insufficiently physically active, participated. Participants were randomly assigned to either six-weeks of HIIT (n = 15) or a waitlist (WL) control (n = 15). The HIIT group performed three supervised leg cycling exercise sessions per week. Participants completed the SF-36 Health Survey at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6, and post-intervention. The QoL domains measured by the SF-36 include: physical functioning, role-physical, role-emotional, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, mental health, and general health. Changes in QoL were tested with 2 Group x 5 Time mixed model ANOVA. Hedges’ d effect sizes were calculated to evaluate the magnitude of change from baseline to post-intervention. RESULTS: The group x time interaction was significant (F = 6.6, p < 0.001) for vitality scores; baseline (HIIT: 27.0 ± 15.6; WL: 34.3 ± 14.7) to post-intervention (HIIT: 48.7 ± 21.5; WL: 29.7 ± 18.1; d = 1.69; CI: 0.86, 2.52) improvements favored the exercise group. Similarly significant group x time interactions (F = 6.4, p < 0.001) favoring exercise were found for emotional well-being from baseline (HIIT: 40.8 ± 18.7; WL: 51.5 ± 14.2) to post-intervention (HIIT: 63.7 ± 17.7; WL: 52.5 ± 20.0; d = 1.28; CI: 0.50, 2.06), and general health (F = 7.2, p < 0.001) from baseline (HIIT: 52.7 ± 21.5; WL: 54.3 ± 18.7) to post-intervention (HIIT: 66.3 ± 19.0; WL: 46.3 ± 19.4; d = 1.07; CI: 0.28, 1.80). Interactions were non-significant for all other QoL components (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results support that six weeks of HIIT-based cycle exercise training can improve components of QoL in a sample of women with probable PTSD symptoms. Mary Ella Lunday Soule